Collapsible tube



May 2, 1933. G GUENTHER 1,907,353

COLLAPSIBLE TUBE Filed Nov. 24, 1931 FULL-SIE. 1 V11 Erd's.

INVENTOR. GDT TP'RIED GUE. NTHER A TTORNEYS.

Patented May 2, 1933 PATENT OFFICE GOTTFRIED GUENTHER, OF FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA COLLAPSIBLE TUBE Application led November 24, 1931.y Serial No. 577,101.

This invention relates to improvements in valves for collapsible tubes and has particular reference to a valve for use with toothpaste and the like commodities expressed from a soft metallic tube.

The principal object of the invention is to provide means whereby the end of the tube will be automatically sealed, after each expression therefrom.

A further object is to produce a device which may be employed with the standard form of tube.

A still further object is to produce a device which is economical to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a tube having my invention applied thereto and with the cap removed,

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the tube partly in cross section,

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the manner in which the valve opens during the expressing operation, and

Fig. l is a cross sectional view taken on the line l--fl of Fig. 2.

ln expressing toothpaste, it is Common to squeeze the tube and then to place the brush under the end of the tube, vafter which the cap is replaced thereon or if it is not replaced, as is often the case, the paste in the end of the tube is exposed to the air and also to contamination. With my device the cap is removed and thrown away, after which the tube is used in the customary manner, with the exception that after the paste is removed from the end of the tube, a small valve positioned in the mouth of the tube will automatically close the opening in the tube, thus preventing waste and contamination of the paste. y

In the accompanying drawing wherein for the purpose ef illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates an ordinary collapsible 50 tube having a neck 6 upon which a cap 7 is adapted to be positioned. The opposite end of the tube is sealed in the customary manner as by a metal crimped strip 8. The construction thus far described is common to all tubes of this character.

My invention consists of a ball 11 which is placed in the end of the neck 6 so as to close the opening 12, which extends through the neck 6. To this ball l attach an elastic member 13, the opposite end of which is passed through the tube .and clamped in the end thereof, as shown at 141, the bottom of the tube and the crimped member 8 serving as a clamping means.

The result of this construction is that under ordinary conditions the ball 11 will be in the position shown in Fig. 1, but when the tube is squeezed so as to express paste therefrom, as shown in Fig. 3, the elastic member 13 will stretch permitting the ball 11 to take the p0- sition of this figure and allowing the paste to pass around the ball and be expressed from the tube. As soon as the pinching action of the tube ceases, the elastic member 13 will exert its force to draw the ball back into the seating position of Fig. 2. This elastic member permits the tube to be rolled from the lower end toward the neck, as is often done, Without destroying the functioning of the device.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my inve11tion,Iclaim ln a device of the character described, a collapsible tube having a neck and an open ing passing therethrough, of a ball valve positioned in said neck so as to close the opening therethrough and movable outwardly to permit the discharge of the contents of said tube, an elastic member having one end connected to said ball, and having its opposite end passing through said tube and connected to the opposite end of said tube.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

` GOTTFRIED GUENTHER. 

